Find a Theater Near You Press Page

A Coffee in Berlin

Watch Trailer
Watch Trailer
Overview

Jan Ole Gerster’s wry and vibrant feature debut A Coffee in Berlin, which swept the 2013 German Oscar Awards, paints a day in the life of Niko, a twenty-something college dropout going nowhere fast. Niko lives for the moment as he drifts through the streets of Berlin, curiously observing everyone around him and oblivious to his growing status as an outsider. Then on one fateful day, through a series of absurdly amusing encounters, everything changes: his girlfriend rebuffs him, his father cuts off his allowance, and a strange psychiatrist dubiously confirms his ’emotional imbalance’. Meanwhile, a former classmate insists she bears no hard feelings toward him for his grade-school taunts when she was “Roly Poly Julia,” but it becomes increasingly apparent that she has unfinished business with him. Unable to ignore the consequences of his passivity any longer, Niko finally concludes that he has to engage with life. Shot in timeless black and white and enriched with a snappy jazz soundtrack, this slacker dramedy is a love letter to Berlin and the Generation Y experience.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

"Delightful. There’s wisdom lurking in its light, witty approach. Contains echoes of Baumbach’s "Frances Ha" and Scorsese’s "After Hours." A rich blend of humor and sadness."

ERIC KOHN

INDIEWIRE

“A slacker movie, German style; and though at first glance it might seem as aimless as its main character, this wry, charming film actually offers some mature observations about this thing we call life.”

DAVID LEWIS

SF CHRONICLE

“Melds the slacker cool of Jim Jarmusch’s 1984 film, Stranger in Paradise, to the dry, jazz-scored, melancholy-tinged comedy of early Woody Allen.”

NICK SHRAGER

THE ONION/AV CLUB

“A wry, unforced comedy. Inescapably brings to mind vintage Woody Allen. Tom Schilling is exceptionally appealing."

SHERI LINDEN

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"A crowd-pleaser. Poignant and funny. A love-letter to the city of Berlin."

ARD VIJN

TWITCH FILM

“Four Stars - A delightful discovery. Boasts a heart of gold and a suave, unassuming charm. Intelligent, witty and an awful lot of fun."

PATRICK GAMLE

CINE-VUE

"Four Stars - The absurd, touching and melancholy wanderings of a young German through a Berlin would make Jim Jarmusch proud."

FRED PIETERS

SCREEN COMMENT

“Four Stars - Highly recommended. An engaging and enjoyable German slacker comedy that marks out writer-director Jan-Ole Gerster as a future talent to watch."

MATTHEW TURNER

VIEWLONDON

Winner of 6 German Film Academy Awards, including Outstanding Feature Film, Best Director and Best Actor

Winner! European Film Awards 2013 - Discovery Award

Cast & Crew
  • Niko Fischer : Tom Schilling
  • Julika Hoffmann : Friederike Kempter
  • Matze : Marc Hosemann
  • Elli : Katharina Schüttler
  • Karl Speckenbach : Justus von Dohnányi
  • Psychologe : Andreas Schröders
  • Phillip Rauch : Arnd Klawitter
  • Jörg : Martin Brambach
  • Ronny : Frederick Lau
  • Walter Fischer : Ulrich Noethen
  • Friedrich : Michael Gwisdek
  • Director : Jan Ole Gerster
  • Screenplay : Jan Ole Gerster
  • Producer : Marcos Kantis, Alexander Wadouh
  • Director of Photography : Philipp Kirsamer
  • Editor : Anja Siemens
  • Production Designer : Juliane Friedrich
  • Music : The Major Minors, Cherilyn Macneil
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2012
  • Release Date : 06/13/14
  • Countries of Production : Germany
  • Languages : German
  • Running Time : 88 minutes
  • Screen Ratio : 1:85:1
  • Sound : Dolby SRD
  • Color : Black & White
  • Rating : Not Rated
Theatrical Engagements
Theater Name
City
State
Date
New York
NY
06/13/2014
San Francisco
CA
06/20/2014
Chicago
IL
06/20/2014
San Jose
CA
06/20/2014
Los Angeles
CA
06/27/2014
Minneapolis
MN
06/27/2014
Wilmette
IL
06/27/2014
Monterey
CA
07/04/2014
Atlanta
GA
07/11/2014
Denver
CO
07/11/2014
Washington
D.C.
07/11/2014
Cambridge
MA
07/11/2014
Taos
NM
07/13/2014
Coral Gables
FL
07/18/2014
Miami
FL
07/18/2014
Columbus
OH
07/25/2014
Lake Worth
FL
07/25/2014
Lake Worth
FL
07/25/2014
Bloomington
IN
07/25/2014
Lancaster
PA
07/25/2014
Boca Raton
FL
07/25/2014
Hartford
CT
08/01/2014
Savannah
GA
08/02/2014
Portsmouth
NH
08/08/2014
Bellingham
WA
08/08/2014
Santa Barbara
CA
08/20/2014
Sioux Falls
SD
08/22/2014
Gainesville
FL
08/29/2014
Oklahoma City
OK
09/04/2014
Wintson Salem
NC
09/05/2014
Atlanta
GA
09/06/2014
Cleveland
OH
09/11/2014
DVD/Blu-Ray Special Features

A Conversation with Director Jan Gerster and Film Critic Igntiy Vishnevetsky, Music Featurette, Tom Schilling improvisation, Outtakes, Deleted Scenes, Casting Tapes